User Interface Patents (Class 701/418)
  • Patent number: 8457882
    Abstract: Systems and methods for updating a navigation system are provided. In one implementation, a system includes: a navigation system configured to provide a navigational solution; at least one memory device configured to store a terrain object database, the terrain object database storing information that describes a terrain; a user interface configured to display a terrain model and receive position adjustments from a user; and a processing unit configured to generate displayable information for displaying the terrain model using the information stored on the at least one memory device and the navigational solution, and calculate corrections to the navigational solution from the position adjustments and transmit the corrections to the navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Pyne, Steven Martinez
  • Patent number: 8457873
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, systems and components enable selective control of an operational mode for a vehicle that may be subject to an administrative standard. In some instances a qualified person or entity may attain a possible consequential result related to a user-selected vehicle operation mode that may involve a vehicle operation paradigm and/or a vehicle travel route and/or a vehicle travel destination. In some embodiments, implementation of the selected vehicle operation mode may modify a conformity status of the vehicle relative to the administrative standard. Various accessible records may be maintained regarding certification of preferable consequential results available to qualified recipients based on a correlated vehicle operational mode. A further aspect may provide correlation between a selective operation mode of an electric/combustion hybrid vehicle during an applicable travel period and a preferred consequential result available to a qualified recipient associated with the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Thomas J. Nugent, Jr., Clarence T. Tegreene, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 8451108
    Abstract: In an on-vehicle information providing device including an input device 1 for inputting information corresponding to operation, on-vehicle information equipment 2 for executing processing corresponding to the information input, an active safety system 3 for monitoring surrounding conditions of the vehicle and generating caution information, a liquid crystal display device 4 for displaying a processing result of the on-vehicle information equipment, and a head-up display (HUD) 5 for displaying the information delivered from the on-vehicle information equipment or from active safety system, the on-vehicle information equipment sends, if any display interrupt request is made from the active safety system during execution of the display processing onto the HUD, a display switching control request to the HUD by suspending the display processing, and the HUD switches from a state of displaying the information from the on-vehicle information equipment to a state of displaying the information from the active safety s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kohno, Reiko Okada, Kiyoshi Matsutani
  • Patent number: 8438481
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for use in connection with a device having navigation and media functionality includes a navigation interface and a media interface that each have having a plurality of screens adapted to facilitate interaction between a user and a navigation application and a media application, respectively. An application interface toggle button it is actuatable on at least one of the plurality of navigation interface screens and on at least one of the plurality of media interface screens. Actuation of the application interface toggle button from a navigation interface screen invokes display of a media interface screen, and actuation of the application interface toggle button from a media interface screen invokes display of a navigation interface screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Dannie Lau, Darren Kelly O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130110385
    Abstract: A system and method for multiple vehicles to be dispatched and routed to multiple destinations, with or without constraints, containing a software core, which uses bounded geographic regions (“BGRs”) and Node Pairs to explicitly optimize, in two dimensions, for user desired dependent variables, by analyzing variance due to standard and user-defined independent variables. The invention stores Node Pair data, and can use error function, feedback, and ANOVA/MANOVA to create a tightly convergent dispatching and navigation solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Mr. Thomas Heed
  • Patent number: 8428874
    Abstract: A destination retrieving method including: analyzing map data to define a relation between points of interest (POIs) as a POI relation; and providing a search result in the tree structure based on the POI relation when retrieving a destination name is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Eun-Young Park, Myung Sik Kim, Ji Sun Jo, Sang Hun Chang
  • Patent number: 8428872
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for receiving and displaying a taxiway navigation route on a control display unit having at least one entry field and a plurality of display lines. A plurality of taxi route segments are received from an entry field. The plurality of taxi route segments include at least a first taxi route segment and a second taxi route segment. The taxi route segments are assigned to separate display lines in the order in which the taxi route segments were received to form a taxiway navigation route. The taxi route segments are displayed on the control display unit in the order in which the taxi route segments were received. The display line in which the first taxi route segment is to be assigned can be selected. In addition, navigation data corresponding to the taxi route segments can be identified, retrieved, and assigned to the respective taxi route segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Samuel T. Clark, Robert P. Smith, Roglenda R. Bowe, Andrew D. Neff
  • Patent number: 8417443
    Abstract: Vehicle speed identification information for identifying vehicle speed of a vehicle on a road is obtained for a plurality of vehicles. Based on a distribution of the vehicle speed identification information, the vehicle speed identification information is classified into groups corresponding to motions of the vehicle. An occurrence probability of a motion of the vehicle is obtained based on the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8406994
    Abstract: Improved designs of navigation devices or systems are disclosed. A navigation device presents a digital map resembling an ambient environment with a certain level of realism, where various objects resembling major structures or signs are presented or superimposed in the map. Depending on the time of the day or the weather condition of the time, the map or the objects therein is caused to be altered correspondingly in a tone that reflects the time or weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: InfoGation Corporation
    Inventors: Kent Qing Pu, Ivan Angelov, David Thieme
  • Patent number: 8392111
    Abstract: A method, medium, and system providing an updating traveling route to a user. The navigation system includes a route selecting unit to select an optimal route for an item to traverse based on calculated performance indexes of a plurality of alternative routes for the traversal, a performance index calculating unit to recalculate the performance indexes of the alternative routes during a current traversal of the selected optimal route based on received external information regarding sections of available traversals after a predetermined point in each alternative route beyond a current point of the current traversal, and a route changing unit to selectively update the optimal route during the current traversal based on the recalculated performance indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-seob Ryu, Jong-ho Lea, Yong-beom Lee
  • Patent number: 8374781
    Abstract: A method of planning a vehicle route includes estimating fuel requirements of identified alternative routes or route segments using navigation, vehicle, and powertrain information. The method also includes displaying for a vehicle operator a list of alternate routes that features either absolute or relative values representative of such estimated fuel requirements. The method further includes adapting values used to estimate fuel requirements based upon current powertrain operating parameters, and alerting the vehicle operator when actual vehicle fuel economy along a selected route varies significantly from the estimated fuel requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Peter G. Hartman
  • Patent number: 8370066
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing travel information. An information terminal offers a user an opportunity to select to receive travel information. Upon such a selection by the user, selections and information are received from the user to indicate the user's needs. The selections and information may take the form of explicit selections and entries, or submission of an identifier associated with a use record indicating user needs. Information submitted by the user is examined and appropriate travel directions, local area information, and information relating to the destination or points along the route are furnished to the user. If desired, a user record may be updated with information related to the current transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Kaj Svante Nybom
  • Patent number: 8335643
    Abstract: A computer-implemented navigation method for identifying one or more points of interest (POI) in a geographic location includes calculating a navigation route and receiving a reference point input. The reference point input may be unrelated to the navigation route and usable for identifying one or more POIs. The method further includes receiving one or more search parameters for searching for one or more POIs with respect to the reference point and identifying the one or more POIs based on the search parameters and reference point. The method also includes presenting the one or more POIs on a vehicle computer display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karl Douglas Vandivier, Dean T. Wisniewski, Mark Schneider, Jennifer L. Brace, Paul Aldighieri, Vilay Patel, Charles Michael Broadwater
  • Patent number: 8315795
    Abstract: Even if a detailed map being displayed is continuously scrolled, the place of the detailed map being displayed is kept to a wide-area map. A map display system having a map display for displaying a plurality of maps and an information distribution server which is connected to the map display through a communication means and distributes map data to the map display comprises a display means for displaying a first map capable of being scrolled and a second map including the scope of the first map, a scroll control means for scrolling the first map, a condition judging means for judging whether or not to control the display form of the second map according to the result of the scroll of the first map by the scroll control means and a condition for controlling the display form of the second map set in advance, and a reduced scale control means for controlling the display form of the second map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Navitime Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8296060
    Abstract: A method and device for assisting in the navigation of an airplane on the ground at an airport employs a display unit for automatically presenting data relating to the path to be followed by the airplane at the airport in textual form on a display screen, and a display unit for automatically presenting this data in graphic form on a display screen, using a plot illustrating said path on an airport map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Fabien Fetzmann, Pierre Coldefy, Isabelle La Vielle, Nicolas Gros
  • Patent number: 8280625
    Abstract: Methods and computer readable medium for collaborating on geographical maps between two or more computers are disclosed. In particular, sharing a geographical location on a map between two or more computers and co-navigating a map between two or more computers are disclosed. With respect to sharing a geographical location, the geographical location is retrieved to the first computer. The geographical location is added to the map being rendered at the first computer and is sent to a second computer. A map including the geographical location is rendered at the second computer. With respect to co-navigating, a map is displayed from a map perspective at the first computer. The map perspective is sent to the second computer. A map from the same map perspective being displayed at the first computer is rendered at the second computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: VID Scale, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Coch, David Mark Smith, Graham Knight
  • Patent number: 8265864
    Abstract: A method of providing geographic information for a navigation system comprises obtaining a request for a geographic region and accessing geographic data corresponding to the geographic region from a geographic database. The method also comprises providing a plurality of first map images generated from the geographic data. Each of the first map images represents a unique portion of the geographic region. When the first map images are displayed together, they provide a first map depicting the geographic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Navteq B.V.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kaufman, James M. Herbst
  • Patent number: 8260536
    Abstract: An embodiment of a motoring aid method and system for a road vehicle, whereby a motoring aid information item is generated as the road vehicle travels along a road having a road surface; the information is converted into a graphic display image; and the image is projected onto a portion of the road surface ahead of the road vehicle, to allow the driver of the road vehicle to view the image without distracting the driver's attention from the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Stefani
  • Publication number: 20120221188
    Abstract: The described method and system provide for a removable computing device as part of a HMI of a vehicle which may be utilized to provide consumers with a personalized driving experience, comprehensive infotainment services, and a more sophisticated avenue for third parties to interact with the consumer. Specifically, the computing device may be a tablet computer, and may communicate with vehicle components wirelessly or through a wired connection and through a communications gateway or other interface. The tablet computer may be a general purpose computer with specific applications designed for vehicle-related functions stored on it. The tablet may provide the user with a plurality of functional interfaces, such as interfaces relating to conventional instrument gauges, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls, a radio, infotainment services, diagnostics monitoring, and vehicle module reflashing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: General Motors LLC
    Inventor: James J. Kelly, III
  • Patent number: 8244461
    Abstract: A display system for a parachutist is provided based on navigation data and calculations of locations where the parachutist should steer the parachute to increase likelihood of reaching a target. A two-dimensional representation of a navigation funnel is displayed. The display may increase situational awareness by use of color to indicate preferred positions in the navigation funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Nanohmics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Durrett, Keith D. Jamison, Mark A. Schulze, Daniel Shedd
  • Patent number: 8239129
    Abstract: A method for speech recognition includes providing a source of geographical information within a vehicle. The geographical information pertains to a current location of the vehicle, a planned travel route of the vehicle, a map displayed within the vehicle, and/or a gesture marked by a user on a map. Words spoken within the vehicle are recognized by use of a speech recognition module. The recognizing is dependent upon the geographical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Zhongnan Shen, Fuliang Weng, Zhe Feng
  • Patent number: 8234059
    Abstract: A navigation device 100 having a function to modify a route comprises an operational object detecting part 11 configured to detect a point or a section on the route as an operational object, a fixed point setting part 12 configured to set as fixed points two points on the route sandwiching the operational object therebetween, an operational object displacement detecting part 13 configured to detect a displacement of the operational object, a path changing part 14 configured to change a path of the route depending on the displacement of the operational object while elongating or contracting a line connecting the operational object and the fixed point, and a route re-searching part 15 configured to re-search and display an alternate route continuously depending on the changing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Sugiyama, Minako Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 8229667
    Abstract: A method of displaying a background sky in a navigation system, the method including: storing and maintaining map data and background sky image data with respect to one or more directions of the map data in a database; detecting a driving direction angle of a vehicle; computing a position of a background sky image corresponding to the detected driving direction angle; extracting background sky image data corresponding to the computed position of the background sky image from the database; and displaying the extracted background sky image data as a background sky with respect to the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Thinkware Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Hak Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8224563
    Abstract: The latitude/longitude and time acquired at prescribed sampling time intervals by a touring bus 1 which runs a predetermined running route are wireless-transmitted. A user 6 specifies a getting-on/off point on the basis of the latitude/longitude and time provided by the touring bus and acquires a running route inclusive of the getting-on/off point. Therefore, the user can acquire the running route inclusive of the getting-on/off point easily and instantaneously. The user can specify the getting-on/off point using the speed computed from the latitude/longitude and time acquired. Thus, the user can set his desired notifying point on the running route thus acquired. In such a configuration, there are provided a system for permitting a user of a touring bus to acquire a running route of the touring bus inclusive of a getting-on/off point easily and instantaneously and a system for notifying the arrival of the touring bus which permits the user to set his desired notifying point easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Harushi Muramatsu, Hiroki Oishi
  • Patent number: 8223119
    Abstract: A system for providing a manipulatable graphical display comprising a user input device responsive to a user input, a cursor control device operably coupled to the user input device, and a menu engine operably coupled to the cursor control device. The cursor control device is further configured to process an output received from the user input device and generate a cursor image positioned on a display in response to the user output suitable for locking onto and tracing a path on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Krenz, Pamela K. Hahn, Bryan C. Schultz, Charles B. Dirks
  • Patent number: 8219315
    Abstract: A method of creating and playing customizable audio alerts in a personal navigation device is disclosed. The method includes adding a user-customizable text message to a message field of a point of interest (POI) data structure for a POI to create an updated POI data structure, storing the updated POI data structure in a memory of the personal navigation device, receiving current position information of the personal navigation device, comparing the current position information of the personal navigation device with position coordinates associated with the updated POI data structure, and converting the text message of the updated POI data structure to speech and playing the speech through a speaker of the personal navigation device when the position comparison indicates that the personal navigation device is within a predetermined radius of the POI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitac International Corp.
    Inventor: Roger Kingaby
  • Patent number: 8195386
    Abstract: A movable-body navigation information display unit is provided. In the movable-body navigation information display unit, a driver can intuitively and accurately recognize a relation between navigation information and a real picture or a real landscape. In addition, it is possible to avoid a state that visibility of a caution-needed picture such as a pedestrian in the real picture and a real picture of a road construction site is inhibited by an image of the navigation information. An image data creating section (405) matches road shape data with a road shape model to estimate posture data. In addition, the image data creating section creates picture (image) data for accurately compositing and displaying the image of the navigation information in an appropriate position in a real picture (or in a real landscape) of a road ahead of a movable body, and displays the navigation information as a three-dimensional icon or the like. A picture display section (5) performs display based on the picture data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: National University Corporation Kumamoto University
    Inventors: Zhencheng Hu, Keiichi Uchimura
  • Patent number: 8190362
    Abstract: Techniques are described for displaying or otherwise providing information to users regarding various types of road traffic condition information in various ways. The information may be provided, for example, as part of a user interface (or “UI”), which may in some situations further include one or more types of user-selectable controls to allow a user to manipulate in various ways what road traffic condition information is displayed and/or how the information is displayed. A variety of types of road traffic condition information may be presented to users in various manners, including by presenting information on graphically displayed maps for geographic areas to indicate various information about road conditions in the geographic area. In addition, provided controls may allow users to select particular times, select particular routes, indicate to perform animation of various types of changing traffic conditions over a sequence of multiple successive times, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Inrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Alec Barker, Todd Asher, Mitchel A. Burns, Oliver B. Downs, Craig H. Chapman, Robert C. Cahn
  • Publication number: 20120130631
    Abstract: In a car navigation system with direction warning and a method thereof, a satellite positioning module provides a position information; a route planning unit provides a driving route by searching an electronic map database stored in a storage unit for corresponding map information based on a starting position and a target position; and a navigation unit generates driving direction information based on the position information and the driving route, retrieves a sound signal or screen signal from a direction sound module or a screen control module, respectively, corresponded to the driving direction information, and outputs the sound signal by an output unit or displays the screen signal by a display unit. The car navigation system and the method thereof serve to provide a sound warning or an image warning to remind a driver of an angle contained between the current driving road and a next road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicants: MITAC RESEARCH (SHANGHAI) LTD., MITAC INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: WU-HU CHEN
  • Patent number: 8185304
    Abstract: A method of controlling a navigation system is provided which builds up historical information of routes taken by a vehicle and uses this information to provide an appropriate route for the vehicle based upon deviations from suggested routes stored upon a mobile computer unit of the navigation system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nina Insolia, Scot MacLellan
  • Patent number: 8185310
    Abstract: A navigation device and the like capable of appropriately alleviating an amount of communicating information between the navigation server and a navigation device, from the viewpoint of guiding a user to a destination point via the navigation device, on the basis of a support route which is set by the navigation server. Of the links constituting a support route R which connects the current position p1 and the destination position p2 of the user, the links satisfying an extraction condition set according to a changing pattern of a road type are extracted as target links. Also, the target links, that is, the link having high necessity from the viewpoint of guiding the user, with regard to the changing pattern of the road type, is recognized by the navigation device 200 on the basis of communication between the navigation server 100 and the navigation device 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sengoku, Aiko Sugawara, Masakuni Tsuge, Masayuki Arai, Yoshitaka Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8180568
    Abstract: A method for operating a navigation system includes the following steps: a) computing a route from a starting point to a destination, wherein the route consists of a sequence of road segments and junctions between the road segments that is selected from a database, in which a geographic area is described in the form of road segments and junctions, with a route computation method, b) computing at least one maneuvering instruction that contains instructions for the user in order to follow the route from the current position, and c) computing and displaying a schematic maneuvering image on a display device, wherein the schematic maneuvering image graphically illustrates the maneuvering instructions in schematic form, wherein adjacent junctions that do not lie along the route and/or adjacent road segments that do not lie along the route and do not converge with a junction along the route are also analyzed during the computation of the schematic maneuvering image, wherein at least part of the adjacent road segmen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Garmin Würzburg GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten W. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8175760
    Abstract: A device comprises means for computing the air-craft (A) current position, means for determining at least one maximum permitted deviation (E1) around a set position of the flight path of the flight plan according to accuracy and integrity performances of said current position computation and to the restriction of a flight range authorized in a flight corridor (6A, 6B), and a display system (7) for displaying at least one a distance scale (9) on a viewing screen (8), at least one a fixed symbol (10) displaying the current position and two movable pointers (13, 14) displaying the limits of said maximum permitted deviation (E1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Patrice Rouquette, Nolween Laveant, Didier Have, Arnaud Le Tellier
  • Publication number: 20120109513
    Abstract: A method comprising: presenting a three-dimensional environment, comprising routes, to a user by using a selected one of a plurality of perspective views of the environment that corresponds to a current position on a current route; detecting a gesture user input comprising a characteristic that changes in time, and changing the current position on the current route to a new position on a route in response to the gesture user input wherein a first characteristic of the gesture user input determines a direction along the current route of the new position relative to the current position and a second characteristic of the gesture user input determines the new position; and presenting the three-dimensional environment, comprising routes, to the user by using a newly selected one of the plurality of perspective views of the environment that corresponds to the new position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventor: Petros Belimpasakis
  • Patent number: 8170794
    Abstract: A navigation unit includes a position mode module that is operable to place the navigation unit in a first mode in which the navigation unit provides for output a current position of the navigation unit or a second mode in which the navigation unit provides for output at least one stored position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Ake Nils Rydgren
  • Patent number: 8131467
    Abstract: A route information display device calculates a branch point in routes to a plurality of inputted destinations, and uses the branch point to control information modes. A route information display device includes: a departure point input unit that detects a current location of the user; a multiple destination input unit that accepts input of a plurality of destinations; a route search unit that searches for respective routes from the current location to the plurality of destinations; a branch point calculation unit that calculates a branch point of the respective searched routes; and a route information display unit that displays information regarding routes to the branch point and information regarding routes beyond the branch point in different modes, wherein the route information display device supports easy comprehension of information by the user by calculating a branch point of a plurality of inputted destinations and providing information in consideration of the branch point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mototaka Yoshioka, Jun Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20120053829
    Abstract: In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a parameterless search request, which was provided to a mobile computing device, for information that is relevant to a user of the mobile computing device. The method also includes, in response to the received parameterless search request, identifying with a digital computer system one or more results that are determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon a current context of the mobile computing device. The method further includes providing the results for display to a user of the mobile computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Sumit Agarwal, Vic Gundotra, Alex Nicolaou
  • Publication number: 20120046860
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing passive crowd-sourced alternate route recommendations are disclosed. In one embodiment, locations of users of a number of mobile location-aware devices are tracked over time. Upon receiving a request, users of mobile location-aware devices that have traveled from a desired start location to a desired stop location are identified. Location histories for the identified users are analyzed to determine one or more different routes taken from the desired start location to the desired stop location. The one or more different routes, or a select subset thereof, are then returned to the requestor as recommended alternate routes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: KOTA ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Curtis, Eric P. Halber, Gregory M. Evans, Steven L. Petersen